PSYCH 2E03 Lecture 15: Auditory Anatomy
1 Nov 2016
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Psych 2e03 lecture 15 auditory anatomy. Frequency theory (ernest rutherford): basilar membrane is capable of vibrating within the full range of frequencies that are audible to humans. Limitations due to max firing rate of action potentials (~500 impulses/second, or 500hz) But we know human hearing goes way beyond 500hz: proposed that amplitude was related to the size of the electrical response in auditory neurons. A really loud sound would cause a really big action potential. Can"t be true because action potentials are an all or nothing event, can"t have different intensities: frequency theory can"t account for how auditory system encodes for sound frequency. Frequency is actually represented according to the place theory. Differences in width (size) and tension of the basilar membrane produce a systemic change in resonant frequency along its length: base of basilar membrane is very tense, apex has lower tension so a bit more floppy. Cause the max displacement of the basilar membrane near the base.
